HomeMy WebLinkAboutWhitehead Victorian Cottage �V
7
Southold TPreservation Award
Presented To
Mr. and Mrs. John Whitehead
For The Restoration and Preservation of Their Victorian Cottage
1 " Landma Preservation Commission
Presented this /
> 1
31st Day of May (^/
1994 _ �' °`4
Southold Town Supervisor
s ,-.b
The John and Denyse Whitehead House
While driving along Route 25 in East Marion early in 1991, John and Denyse Whitehead
noticed a For Sale sign on a small Victorian cottage. Nearing retirement, they had dreamed of
finding just such a charming old house in the country that they could restore. By July of 1991 they
were the new owners of what-the Whiteheads call " Tranquility," and now, three years later, they
are nearly finished with the long process of reconstruction, restoration and renewal.
By researching old deeds and by interviewing people familiar with the house, the White-
heads have identified the earliest owner as Daniel E. Clark, who owned the house in 1858. It is
thought that Daniel Clark had been a local cobbler. Other reported owners of the house are Wil-
liam and Lydia Bowditch, Sarah Vail, Ida Thompson Beringer, A. Deserud and, finally, Mrs. De-
serud's daughter, Barbara Hoisington.
While Mrs. Vail owned the house back in the late 1800's, one of her daughters became en-
gaged to be married. As the story is told, to show that the stone in her new ring was a genuine di-
amond, she went to her bedroom window overlooking the road and scratched her first initial, last
name and the date, May 8, 1890, into one of the panes. ,
101 years later, when the Whiteheads bought the house, it had been empty for three years.
The interior was in utter disrepair, the kitchen floor, which had locust post supports, had col-
lapsed, and much of the delicate vergeboard decorative trim had rotted.
Except for some local craftsmen's assistance;the owners, with occasional help from rela-
tives, did all the work. Today the house and several outbuildings are nearing complete restoration.
From the outside you see a delightful Victorian cottage wearing its gingerbread finery with quiet
dignity. The interior of the house is completed and faithfully decorated in the Victorian style. All
the interior work, including cabinetry in the kitchen, ceramic and mosaic tile on the bathroom
floor and the paint on the ceiling, was done by the Whiteheads. This project, they report, is their
first restoration!
the Commission,
John A. Stack,`C irman
May 31, 1994